﻿Citizens urged to take preventive measures against Congo virus

Karachi: Citizens should take proper care to save them from Congo virus ahead of Eid-ul- Azha and adopt all preventive measures, Dr. Shahana Urooj Kazmi Vice Chancellor Dadabhoy Institute of Higher Education (DIHE) said on World Mosquito Day.

She said the deadliest animal in the world is the mosquito. It might seem impossible that something so miniscule can kill so many people, but it’s true.

According to the World Health Organization, mosquito bites result in the deaths of more than 1 million people every year. The majority of these deaths are due to malaria.

Speaking at a seminar she said: “Congo fever could become a grave concern if preventive measures are not taken during Eid-ul-Azha. Citizens must take special preventive measures in these days to protect from carrying Crimean Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF).There is great need for creating awareness in public, visiting animal markets, as well as those handling animals’ leftovers, buyers and butchers.”

She informed that CCHF or Congo fever is a widespread disease caused by a tick-borne virus. The hosts of the CCHF virus included a wide range of wild and domestic animals such as cattle, sheep and goats. Animals become infected by the bite of infected ticks and the virus remains in their bloodstream for about one week after infection, allowing the tick-animal-tick cycle to continue when another tick bites.

The CCHF virus is transmitted to people either by tick bites or through contact with infected animal’s blood or tissues during and immediately after slaughter.